What do Uber-Capitalism and Ibn Battuta have in common?
Encounters writer Tim Mackintosh-Smith has the answer in the March-April edition of Saudi Aramco World. Mackintosh-Smith has written prolifically about Ibn Battuta, who was an Arab-Berber explorer whose own published travel accounts are still treasured throughout the Arab world. Ibn Battuta was a contemporary of Marco Polo, but of course lesser known in the West. Mackintosh-Smith has helped give Ibn Battuta a boost in contemporary culture by not only writing about the famed explorer, but following the paths of his travels. Now, Dubai’s hyper-capitalist culture may be next in line in feeding the Ibn Battuta revival. As Mackintosh-Smith writes, Dubai’s Ibn Battuta mall features panel displays of the great explorer’s travels. Visitors can also participate in an interactive game about Ibn Battuta’s adventures. As an at side, I happened to be studying in Tangier, Morocco a couple of summers ago. Tangier is the birthplace of Ibn Battuta and this breezy Mediterranean city still enjoys touting
